Some Random Practice Problems Math 404, May 2012 (No particular emphasis impliedjust relevant problems I could

grab easily)
1. Given

u u 5 = 0 | x |< , t > 0 u ( x,0) = exp( x 2 ) t x

Solve this Cauchy problem via the method of characteristics. The initial data given is a single bump. Where is the maximum of u (i.e. top of the bump) at time t = 5? 2. If f ( x ) = 2 x on the interval [-1, 1], what does the Fourier series converge to on the interval [-2, 2]? 3. Consider the 1D heat equation

u 2 u + 6 x, = t x 2

u (0, t ) = 1, u (1, t ) = 0 . x

a) find the steady state solution u 0 ( x ) b) if u ( x, t ) = u 0 ( x ) + v ( x, t ) , what pde and boundary conditions does v satisfy? c) without solving the eigenvalue problem, give an explanation of why v 0 as t . 4. (a) For the eigenvalue equation conditions on

d d ( p ( x) ) + ( x) = 0, 0 < x < 1, what are the dx dx

p( x), ( x) to make this a regular Sturm-Liouville equation?

(b) For harmonic functions on maximum principle?

, that is, solutions to 2 u = 0 on , what is the

(c) Given the vibrating string problem

2u 2u = , | x |< , t > 0 , t 2 x 2
what is the domain of dependence for the point characteristics through (4,3).)

( x, t ) = (4,3) ? (Hint: draw the

u 2 u (d) What is the solution to the Cauchy problem = , | x |< , t > 0 , where t x 2 u ( x,0) = F ( x) ?
5. Solve the Cauchy problem 3

u u +2 = 1 , with u ( x,0) = sin( x) , | x |< . x y

6. a) For the problem

2u 2u u = 4 2 , | x |< , t > 0 , u ( x,0) = f ( x), ( x,0) = g ( x) , 2 t t x

x2

write what dAlemberts formula gives for this problem. b) Write what the formula is, given f ( x ) = e , g ( x) 1 . c) At t = 0, the peak (maximum) of u is at x = 0. Where is it when t = 5?

 2 7. Let f ( x ) = 2
(a) Find

+ 2x 8 2x 8

x 0 0 x

f ( x) ~

a0 + a n cos(nx) ; i.e. Compute the Fourier cosine series coefficients 2 n =1

for f on

( , ) .

(b) Sketch the graph of the function the series represents on 8. Solve the Cauchy problem u x + u y + u = e
x+2 y

(2 ,2 ) .
ex sinh( 2 y ) ) 2

, with

u ( x,0) = 0 . (ans: u ( x, y ) =

9. Consider the Poisson problem

2u = f ( x, y ) u=0

in on

= {( x, y ) | x > 2, | y |< } = {( x, y ) | x = 2}

Construct the Greens function for the problem via the reflection principle, then write out the representation of the solution

u ( x, y ) in terms of the Greens function and f, but do not integrate the expression.
d 2u du = f ( x), 0 < x < 1, u (0) = (1) = 0 . Use 2 dx dx f ( x) = e 2 x .

10. What is the Greens function for the BVP

the Greens function to find the solution u(x) when

11. Find the Greens function with the same boundary conditions as in problem 10, but with the equation

d du p( x) = f ( x) , where p(x) > 0 on [0,1] and is continuously differentiable on (0,1). dx dx

12. Consider the wave equation problem

1 1 u tt = c 2 2 u = c 2 { (ru r ) r + 2 u } in quarter disk = {( r , ) | r < 1,0 < < 2} , r r t > 0, with u = 0 everywhere on the boundary of , t 0 , and u (r , ,0) = f (r , ), u t (r , ,0) = g (r , ) .
Writing u ( r , , t ) = R (r )( )T (t ) ; what are the odes and boundary conditions satisfied by R(r), T(t), and

( ) ? (Do not solve the equations!)

13. Solve via separation of variables Laplaces equation on the square, i.e.

2 u = 0 in = {( x, y ) | 0 < x, y < }
with boundary conditions

u (0, y ) = 0 = u x ( , y ), u ( x,0) = 0, u ( x, ) = 3 sin(5 x / 2)